Apparatus for the manufacture of gas



- (No-Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1, J. M. ROSE.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFAGTURE 0P GAS.

No; 403,384. Patented May 14,1889.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 2..

410. 403,384. 7 Patented May 14, 1889..

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. A A J. M. ROSE. APPARATUS FOB. THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS. I

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. ROSE, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO THE NATIONAL HEAT AND POWER COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,384, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed March 27, 1888. Serial No. 268,670. (No model.)

ToaZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES M. ROSE, a resident of Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas; and i I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to the manufacture of gas, and more especially to an apparatus for carrying out a method described by me in an application filed March 2, 1887, Serial No. 229,435, and certain improvements thereon. The method described in that application consists, generally stated, in heating by the waste products generated in raising a mass of carbon to incandescence a mass of limestone impregnated with a heavy hydrocarbon and passing through the incandescent carbon andimpregnated limestone a current or currents of steam, whereby the nascent hydrogen generated unites with the heavy hydrocarbons, and a gas is obtained which is composed principally of hydrogen, light hydrocarbon, and carbonic oxide. In carrying out this process I find that it is advisable that the hydrocarbon-bearing materials shall be subjected to the action of the gases so generated at a considerable pressure in order to obtain the maximum action of the hydrogen of the water-gas on the heavy hydrocarbons to form light hydrocarbons, as described in a separate application made by me, Serial No. 273,278, May 5, 1888; It is also desirable in some cases that the gases formed by this process shall be subjected to a scrubbing operation before they are forced through the fixing apparatus, to do which effectually it is advisable to have some means of exhausting the gas from. the generating apparatus through the scrubber, and then forcing it through the fixer.

My invention has for its object to provide an apparatus in which all of these operations 45 can be quickly and economically carried out;

and to these ends my invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of parts more fully hereinafter set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to make 50 and use my invention, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a plan view of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is an end View of the same, and Fig. 3 is a side view.

Like letters refer to like parts in each of the figures of the drawings.

In constructing my improved apparatus two cupola gas generators, at and b, are placed at some distance apart, each generator being provided with a charging-port, c, in the roof thereof for the charging of the fuel I therein and the admission of air to support the combustion of the fuel, as hereinafter explained, grate-bars d at the base of said generator for the support of said fuel, stokeholes 6 6 above and below said grates for the withdrawal of the clinkers and ashes therefrom, suitable steam-inlets, 6 6 therein for the admission of steam during the gas-making process, and a gas-outlet, f, leading to the storage tanks or reservoirs. Each of these generators is also provided with an air-inlet (not shown) at its base below the grate-bars for the admission of air therein at a particular time, as hereinafter explained.

Between the-generators a b, and preferably resting on a raised foundation, is a casing containing a double hydrocarbon generator or chamber, H, which has two compartments, g h, therein. Each of these compartments is provided with a charging-port, i, in the roof thereof for the charging therein of the blocks or pieces of limestone or other refractory material coated I with coal-tar, asphaltum, or other heavy hydrocarbon, so forming a mass of refractory material impregnated with heavy hydrocarbon, also with grate-bars i, for the support of said materials, stoke-holes for the withdrawal of the materials when spent, and suitable steam-inlets,j, at the top and bottom for the admission of steam into the compartment when the gas from the generator is passing therethrough, as hereinafter explained. The compartments 9 h are connected together at their upper ends by a flue, h, so that the gases may pass from one to the other, and the lower part of the compartment g, preferably below the grate-bars t", is connected by a pipe or conduit, 70, con 100 trolled by a valve, to the lower part of the generator to, preferably below the grate-bars, so that the products of combustion and gas generated therein may pass over to the lower part of the compartment g. The compartment 7b is also connected in like manner at its lower part, preferably below the grate bars, by a conduit, Z, controlled by a valve, Z, to the lower part of the generater Z). In front of the chamber 11 is a scrubber, m, for the removal of the tarry matter, which scrubber is filled with coke, wood, or other material, such as is customary to employ for this purpose, the whole being, if desired, sprayed with water from the top of the scrubber as the gases rise up through the mass of materials therein, the gases passing out at the top of the scrubber. To effect this connection of the scrubber to the compartments of the chamber II, the compartment g is connected with the bottom of the scrubber by a conduit, m, controlled by a valve, 072?, and the bottonw of the compartment 72. is also connected with the bottom of the scrubber by a conduit, 'n, controlled by a suitable valve, n By this arrangement the gases from one generator (the other being cut off from the chamber H) can be directed into the bottom of one compartment, passing up through the material therein, and over into the top of the other compartment, down through the material therein, and finally out at the bottom of that compart ment to the scrubber, and after one or more flows of gas in this direction the first generator may be shut off from the chamber H and the other thrown in communication therewith, as hereinafter explained, which causes the gases to pass through the compartments in the reverse direction to that above set forth, the advantage of this arrangement being that a more uniform exhaustion of the heavy hydrocarbon -bearing material is obtained.

Instead of arranging the compartments of the chamber II as heretofore described, they may be arranged tandem that is, one of the compartments of the chamber can be con neeted to each of the generators CL and b, and the other compartment to the scrubber, the two compartments being connected with each other, as heretofore described, and the gases passing from the generator directly through both compartments in the chamber II to the scrubber m.

To secure a downdraft in the generators during the combustion of the fuel therein, as hereinafter explained, and also to draw the gases generated from and through the scrubber and force them forward to be fixed, I connect the top of the scrubber m by an escapepipe, 0, with a Root or other suitable gas-exhauster, p, which exhauster is connected at its other end with a T-shaped pipe, 1, which pipe is connected at one end by a conduit, 7', controlled by a valve, 1', to the bottom of the generator a, and the other end of the said pipe q being connected by a pipe, .9, controlled by a valve, .9, with the bottom of the generator b, said valves being employed to cut off the communication with either or both chambers at any time.

In employing my improved apparatus in gas-making the following is the operation: In order to use bituminous or anthracite slack in the generators as carbon or fuel for the generation of the gases, 1 make use of the fact that when a downdraft is used with such fuel-that is, burning from the top downward-the caking of the bituminous slack in burning is avoided and the combustion of the anthracite insured. The compartments g 7: are nearly filled with blocks or pieces of limestone or other refractory material coated with heavy hydrocarbon-sueh as asphaltum or coal-tar-so forming masses of hydrocarbonimpregnated material, and the charging-inlets or ports on the top of the compartments closed and luted to prevent access of air to the chamber during the operation. During the gasmaking process all the charging or discharging ports, relief-valves, &c., are preferably closed and so secured as to withstand a pressure of four or more pounds, as described in said application, Serial No. 273,278, filed May 5, 1888.

To prepare the apparatus for the first step of the processthat is, raising the materials therein to the desired heatsthe chargingport 0 on the generator at is opened, the doors and air-inlets at the base of said generator closed, the gas-outlet f of this generator a closed, while the valve Z, controlling the connection of the generator I) with the compartment h of the hydrocarbon-generator, and the valves n and 'r are closed. This gives an avenue for the flow of the products of combustion and gases from the generator to to the compartment g, thence to the compartment h, thence to the scrubber m, thence through the exhauster p to the generator Z). lVhen these preliminary arrangements have been made, the exhauster p is started, which causes a downdraft from the top of generator a through the compartments of the chamber H and through the scrubber m. Coal or other suitable fuel is now fed through the port 0 onto the grate-bars at the base of generators a and b and ignited, and as these bodies of fuel become incandescent more fuel is added thereto from time to time until the generatonehanibers are nearly filled. The products of combustion formed while the fuel in the generator at is being raised to incandescence are drawn by the exhauster from the bottom of the generator through the conduit 7t to the bottom of the compartment g, rising up through the material therein, imparting its heat thereto, and passing over through the passage h to the top of the chamber h, passing down through the material therein and imparting substantially the remainder of its heat to this material, and finally passing out from the compartment h at the bottom, and thence over to the scrubber and up through the same to the exhauster 19. The exhauster 19, having by its suction aided in'drawing the products thus far, now forces them forward through the conduit s to the bottom of the generator b. The generator 19 has during the early stages been filled with fuel and ignited, so as to start said fuel burning, and when the products of com bustion reach the bottom of the generator I) a supply of air is admitted at this point through a suitable inlet (not shown) and the products burned while passing up through the mass of fuel in the chamber, which fuel is therefore rapidly raised by the air-blast and the heat produced by the combustion of the waste gases to a high degree of incandescence. The purge-valve on the top of the generator I) is opened during this operation to allow the products of combustion to escape, or they are carried to some boiler, to be burned to generate or superheat the steam and during the gas-making step. Fuel is thus gradually fed to both generators at and b, and when the fuel therein has been raised to the desired incandescence the exhauster p is stopped, the charging-ports c of the generators closed and firmly secured in place, and the gas-outlet from the generator b to the receiver or storage-tank is opened. Steam is now admitted at the top of the generator a, and as its only avenue of escape is down through the incandescent fuel it is decomposed into hydrogen and carbonic oxide, and these gases pass over into the hydrocarbonchamber H, entering the compartment 9 thereof. At the entrance of this compartment a further portion of steam is generally admitted, and-as the coated limestone near the entrance of the chamber has been'raised to a high heat the steam is decomposed thereby, the nascent hydrogen set free in both chambers uniting with the heavy hydrocarbon supported on the limestone and forming light hydrocarbon gases, as fully explained in my said application, Serial No. 229,435. The gases pass from the compartment 9 through the flue h to the compartment h, and down through the material therein, and as the gases are rapdily generated from the steam in both chambers a and g, and are compelled to pass through the circuitous passages formed by the interstices between the blocks or pieces of coated refractory material, it is evident that the large mass of coated refractory material forms an obstruction to the flow of the gases, and consequently a considerable pressure is generated within the hydrocarbon-chamber, and this pressure forces the nascent hydrogen into all the interstices within the mass of coated material and through the pores of the heavyhydrocarbon supported thereon, this pressure thus insuring the contact of the nascent hydrogen with all the molecules of carbon, destroyin g the cohesion between the same and the union of said molecules with the hydrogen to form the light hydrocarbon gases, and on account of the pressure generated within said coated refractory material I am enabled to obtain a much larger proportion of such gases.

In order to draw off the gases so generated from the rear portion of the hydrocarbon chamber H and force them forward, when the desired pressure is obtained in said chamber, I start the exhauster p and draw the gases from the chamberHto the scrubber m, and thence up through the same, care being taken that the pressure within the main part of the chamber H is not materially reduced, and the exhauster thus only preventing the clogging of the gases within said chamber. As the gases pass upwardly through the scrubber, they are cooled and all tarry matter is removed therefrom, the gases finally passing out the top of the scrubber and being forced by the exhauster p through the pipes s to the bottom of the generator 1). When the gases arrive at the bottom of the generator I), a supply of steam is admitted into said generator as the gases are passing up through the incandescent fuel therein, which results in the formation of an'additional supply of hydrogen and carbonic oxide and in the fixing of the gas coming from the hydrocarbon-chamber H. The gases finally pass out at the outlet f to the storage tanks or reservoirs. This gas-makin g operation is continued as long as the fuel in the generators is hot enough to decompose steam, and when the temperature falls too low to decompose the steam the latter is turned off and the gas-making operation stopped.

If after one gas-makin g operation in the apparatus it is desired to reverse the flow of the gas through the apparatus, the valve Z, controlling communication between the generator b and the compartment h, is opened, the outlet f from the generator b is closed, the valve 8' is closed, the valves is and or closed, and the valve 7" opened. This gives an avenue for the flow of the waste products and gases which is the reverse of that heretofore described, as they pass from the generator b to the compartment h, thence to the compartment g, thence to the scrubber m, and thence to the exhausterp, to beforced through the pipe to the generator at.

My improved gas-apparatus carries out the gas-making process heretofore described with great celerity and economy in production, and makes it possible to employ any kind of bituminous or anthracite slack in the generators.

In Figs. 1 and 3 is shown a port, 25, covered by a cap, 2%. If desired, this portmay communicate with a generating and fixing cham ber having a grate supporting a bed of coals, and above the same a perforated arch supporting dolomite or other fixing material, as described in application for patent filed by me January 23, 1888, Serial No. 261,693, this apparatus being employed in connection with the several processes described in my applications, Serial Nos. 261,139, filed January 18,;

1888, and 264,982, 264,983, or No. 264,984, filed February 23,1888. In such cases the products of combustion from both the gas-generators could be passed through the hydrocarbon chambers and forced by the exhauster through said fixing-chamber, and the gas generated follow the same course; or, if both a fuel-gas and illuminating-gas were desired, the products of combustion could be carried from the gas-generators through the hydrocarbonchambers, (liquid hydrocarbon being sprayed therein during their passage,) and then through the fixing-chamber, and a fuel-gas thus formed, (as described in my application, Serial N 0. 264,984,) then communication with said fixing-chamber be cut off and the gas be generated, purified, and fixed, as hereinbefore described, and an illuminating-gas be thus obtained. when practicing this method, the gases formed in the one generator can also be carried through the hydrocarbonchambers and treated therein, and then carried directly into the other generator and fixed in the incandescent carbon therein.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. A gas apparatus having two or more cupola-generators with a casing containing a hydrocarbon-chamber connected to each generator, a scrubber connected to said hydrocarbon-chamber, an exhauster connected at one end to said scrubber and at its other end to each of the generators, and suitable valves for controlling said connections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A gas apparatus having two or more cupola-generators with a casing containing a hydrocarbon-chamber connected to each generator, an exhauster communicating at one end with said hydrocarbon-chamber and at its other end to each of the generators, and suitable valves for controlling said connections, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A gas apparatus having a cupola-generator, a casing containing a hydrocarbon-chamber connected thereto, a scrubber connected to said hydrocarbon-chamber, a second cupolagenerator, and an exhauster connected at one end to said scrubber and at its other to the bottom of the second generator, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A gas apparatus having the two cupola gas-generators a b, the casing containing the double compartment hydrocarbon chamber H, the two compartments h g of which are connected bya fiuemfla pipe or flue connecting the generator at and compartment g, and a pipe or flue connecting the generator I; and compartment h, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 7

5. A gas apparatus having two cupola gas generators, a casing containing a double-compartment hydrocarbon-chamber, the com partments of which are connected, connections between each generator and one of the compartments, a scrubber, connections between said scrubber and each of the compartments of the hydrocarbon -chamber, an exhauster which is connected at one end to the scrubber and at the other end to each of the generators, and valves for controlling the several connec- Eions, substantially as and for the purpose set orth.

In testimony whereof I, the said JAMES M. ROSE, have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES M. ROSE.

Witnesses:

WM. P. MERCER, BENJ. W. HAINES. 

